Liver scanning ultrasound

Have you got concerns about lifestyle choices affecting your liver health? We offer fast access to diagnosis with liver scanning ultrasound.

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Free webinar on liver disease: the hidden health risk

14 October at 6pm

Join Dr Jayshri Shah, Consultant Hepatologist and Gastroenterologist and Sadie Ridley, Sonographer, as they guide you through the importance of early detection, liver scanning and treatment options

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What is the Liver Scanning Ultrasound?

Our Liver Scanning Ultrasound – the ACUSON Sequoia Ultrasound System created by Siemens Healthineers – has combined exciting new developments in conventional ultrasound with software that measures liver stiffness and fatty deposits. Currently, there are very few private hospitals in the UK offering this type of advanced liver assessment service, and this is the first of its kind in the South East of England.

In 2023, NICE (National Institute for Health & Care Excellence) issued landmark guidance citing that the Liver Scanning Ultrasound is one of the best techniques for assessing and detecting early liver disease. As well as visualising liver tissue and surrounding organs, the new liver software can provide an accurate assessment of the density of your liver while also assessing for any signs of disease.

Ultrasound Liver Scan

Ultrasound Liver Scan (0% over 10 months)

Procedure type

Treatment price*

Monthly cost**

Liver scan only (with existing referral)

£340

Not available

Liver scan package (consultation, blood work, scan and follow up appointment)

£720

£17.39

Full liver scan and ultrasound of abdomen (includes initial appointment, blood test, liver scan, ultrasound and one follow-up)

£950

£22.97

Liver scan only (with existing referral)

£340

Not available

Liver scan package (consultation, blood work, scan and follow up appointment)

£720

£72.00

Full liver scan and ultrasound of abdomen (includes initial appointment, blood test, liver scan, ultrasound and one follow-up)

£950

£95.00

Ultrasound Liver Scan

Liver scan only (with existing referral)

Treatment price*

£340

Monthly cost**

Not available

Liver scan package (consultation, blood work, scan and follow up appointment)

Treatment price*

£720

Monthly cost**

£17.39

Full liver scan and ultrasound of abdomen (includes initial appointment, blood test, liver scan, ultrasound and one follow-up)

Treatment price*

£950

Monthly cost**

£22.97

Ultrasound Liver Scan (0% over 10 months)

Liver scan only (with existing referral)

Treatment price*

£340

Monthly cost**

Not available

Liver scan package (consultation, blood work, scan and follow up appointment)

Treatment price*

£720

Monthly cost**

£72.00

Full liver scan and ultrasound of abdomen (includes initial appointment, blood test, liver scan, ultrasound and one follow-up)

Treatment price*

£950

Monthly cost**

£95.00

*Guide price

**Representative Examples

Liver scan package (consultation, blood work, scan and follow up appointment)

Total amount of Credit £720.00. Total charge for credit £324.00. Total amount repayable £1,044.00. Repayable by 60 monthly payments of £17.39. Representative 16.9% APR. Example based upon a liver scan package costing £720.00 repayable over 60 months.

Full liver scan and ultrasound of abdomen (includes initial appointment, blood test, liver scan, ultrasound and one follow-up)

Total amount of Credit £950.00. Total charge for credit £428.20. Total amount repayable £1,387.20. Repayable by 60 monthly payments of £22.97. Representative 16.9% APR. Example based upon a full liver scan and ultrasound costing £950.00 repayable over 60 months.

Acceptance is subject to status. Terms and conditions apply.

Our Liver Scanning Ultrasound Service explained by expert Sonographer Sadie

Are you curious about your liver health? Our Liver Scanning Ultrasound Service, led by our skilled Imaging team at Benenden Hospital, is here to provide answers.

Video transcript

Our liver scanning ultrasound service, provided by Siemens, at Benenden Hospital, has combined exciting new developments in conventional ultrasound with new software that measures liver stiffness and fatty deposits. In liver disease, liver stiffness changes due to certain factors such as inflammation and fatty infiltration. The speed of the ultrasound waves - these are called elastography - travel through the liver tissue and is significantly faster in liver disease than it is in normal liver tissue. And this is the basis for the elastography measurements.

Anyone with abnormal liver function tests or are overweight or at risk of having liver disease would benefit from a liver scan to assess for fibrous or fatty infiltration. This will enable early intervention such as lifestyle changes which can potentially help reverse the process before the liver becomes irreversibly damaged. These kind of patients would include people with type two diabetes, obesity, those drinking harmful amounts of alcohol and those at risk of viral hepatitis.

Benenden Hospital is a CQC rated Outstanding hospital with an infection free record. Currently, there are very few hospitals in the UK offering this type of advanced liver assessment service and we are the first of its kind in the south east of England. Firstly, you'll only need to book one appointment for your abdominal scan and the liver assessment. It will take about approximately 30 to 40 minutes for the abdominal ultrasound and the liver assessment. In most other places, the fibre scan would have to be done in a different hospital to your abdominal scan.

The second big advantage is it's a non-invasive, diagnostic method of looking at your liver. So it may overcome some of the complications and limitations of biopsies. The third advantage is you'll have immediate results so you can have peace of mind if you're concerned about having early liver disease. For more information, please visit the Benenden Hospital website or contact the Private Patient team to make enquiries.

What type of patient would need a Liver Scanning Ultrasound?

Anyone with doubts about how their lifestyle choices, including excessive alcohol consumption and poor diet, may be impacting their liver health would benefit from this diagnostic scan. Liver disease is a serious condition and can often progress without symptoms, complicating early identification and delaying potentially life-saving treatment. Having fast access to this private self-pay scan is very beneficial for this reason.

The sooner you have an assessment of any fibrous or fatty infiltration of your liver, the sooner lifestyle or medicated interventions can be made to reverse any liver damage.

Clinical experts in NICE guidelines suggest people who do not have advanced liver fibrosis or cirrhosis but do have risk factors* for potential chronic liver disease would benefit from regular liver assessments every three years.

*including type 2 diabetes, obesity, those drinking harmful amounts of alcohol and those at risk of viral hepatitis (including people using intravenous drugs)

What are the most common forms of liver disease?

There are many different forms of liver disease caused by a variety of factors.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Often caused by poor lifestyle choices and diet. The risk is greater for people with existing or potential health issues like cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure or obesity

Alcohol-related liver disease

This is caused through drinking alcohol. Even drinking large amounts of alcohol for a few days can lead to a fatty liver and more serious conditions

Undiagnosed hepatitis infection

These can sometimes go undiagnosed, causing more damage to the liver

It’s important to remember that liver disease often doesn’t cause symptoms in the early stages of development. If you’re struggling with any of the following symptoms you could have cirrhosis (where your liver is already damaged and scarred):

Feeling or being sick
Tiredness and feeling weak
Loss of sex drive and appetite
Itchy skin
Yellowing skin and whites of eyes (also known as jaundice)

Who is most at risk of developing liver disease?

The risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is greater for people with existing or potential health issues, such as:

Cardiovascular disease
Metabolic syndrome
High blood pressure
Abnormal levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood
Diabetes
Obesity, as this increases levels of fat around the liver

What are the benefits of having a liver ultrasound?

You’ll only need to book one appointment for your abdominal scan and liver assessment
A liver ultrasound is a non-invasive liver diagnostic method, reducing the need for an invasive liver biopsy
Other scanners using this technology called elastography, such as FibroScan, cannot visualise the liver whilst measuring, so the results are often not as accurate
You’ll have immediate results, so you can have peace of mind

How can I prepare for my Ultrasound?

It is important that you do not eat anything and minimise drinking liquids for six hours before your liver scanning ultrasound. Eating or drinking as normal can cause interference and reduce the accuracy of your results.

Some patients may like to arrive in comfy clothes, which make access to scanning the liver (located in your upper right abdomen, beneath your diaphragm) easier.

Ensure you arrive on time to your appointment to minimise delays and do ask any questions prior to your procedure by contacting our Private Patients team when you book.

What happens during a Liver Scanning Ultrasound?

On the day of your liver ultrasound scan, you will be welcomed at our Imaging reception where you’ll then wait in our ultrasound waiting area. One of our specialist Sonographers will then take you into our private and discreet ultrasound room to begin your examination.

The ultrasound scan of your liver will take approximately 20 minutes. If we need to look at your abdomen area, an additional 20 minutes will be needed. Specialised elastography and Ultrasound-Derived Fat Fraction software is used to measure your liver stiffness and fatty infiltration.

What should I expect after a Liver Scanning Ultrasound?

After your scan, our Sonographer will report on your examination that day. The results and measurements for the liver tests are included in the report which will be sent to your Consultant for a follow-up appointment in person or via the telephone.

How can I access a Liver Scanning Ultrasound at Benenden Hospital?

You can access our self-pay liver service if you’re on an NHS waiting list for a Liver scan, or if you book an initial gastroenterology consultation. For more information on how to access this service, please contact our Private Patient team by phone on 01580 363158 or fill in our enquiry form.